Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-15
The American Board.

The American Board.
The prudential committee of the A. b.
f. NJ. having come to the relief of
Home Secretary Alden with formal de-
claration that he has done nothing in his
department except under the direction
and with the approval Of the committee,
the Christian Union has been obliged to
say that they are not well informed.
Until the senior editor of the Christian
Union informed by private letter two
members of that committee" says the
Union 1.-THE committee did not know that
one candidate had been declined because
she was not rs sure that there can be no
future probation as she was of the exist
ence of God. Until they were informed
by a similar private letter the committee
did not know that the Home Secretary
was sending out in the manual creed as
test OF orthodoxy, one article of which
had been, "for substance of doctrine :"
proposed by him in the creed commission
and voted down by a majority Of % to g
Until the committee were informed by
the Christian Union, they did not know
that he was sending out in envelopes and
with documents of the American Board
|
constituency of the Board at home Until
informed by the Christian Union, they
did not know that a candidate had been
declined, not for believing in future pro-
baton. for she had said she saw no init
nation of one in the Bible, but for de
clarng that she did not think God had re
vealed what he would do with those who
had never heard of Christ" The chris
tidn Union mentions other things VIII ich
the prudential committee did not know,
and intimates that it could add to the
list various further specifications of the
same sort. The committee do not seem
to have helped either DR.. Alden or them
selves by their declaration. One or the
severest criticisms of the course of the
board comes from missionary in China,
who, in a letter. which is printed in the
Christian Union, says most of the mis-
sionaries on the field disapprove of the
course of the prudential committee. He
says
If their policy should be carried out
strictly, it would strip the missions of the
board in North China of at least two
thirds of its best men. l know of five
men who believe as Mr.. Hume does in this
mission, and five men of equal ability and
u.
! are men of conservation and conscientious
/ men. They have not thought 1t their
duty yet to send in their designations to
the prudential committee, because their
work cannot spare them, and they have
no desire to leave 1t. Should Mr. Humes
case be decided against him. however,
they would, in strict Justice, have no more
right to remain under the support of the
board than he has | know of one mem
Der who has written out his resignation,
and says he intends to send it in case Mr.
Hume is not allowed to return to his
field.
1t is to be hoped that the prudential
committee will see their mistake, and
stop before they do the mission irrepara
BILE mischief, as they certainly will do if
they persist in their course. hope they
will heed the warning of that good old
man of God, DR.. Hopkins, before it is too
: late. The missions can't stand it much
longer. The idea that believing that Just
so many millions of heathens day are
being sentenced to eternal punishment is
a missionary That if this dogma is dis
believed it will ''cut the nerve of mis-
. sions ~ Is not that libel or slande
on Christianity If the motives of a hope
of immortal life in happy service of the
Master in heaven the eternal issues OF
5 of the universe and, above all, the
mighty motive of the love of God demon
strated in Christ on Calvary-if ali these
, will not move men to give themselves OF
their money to save others-to save the
5 heathen-then what will | think thai
the souls that can stand all this motive
power and not be moved, but still want t.
I know that just so many millions are being
A daily showed off the brink into eterna
misery before they will move hand or foot
are very far from the kingdom of God
The love of Christ cOnstraineth us'' viii
o be the answer of every true man on tn,
S mission field If allowed to speak without
, constraint on this subject. The appalliul
condition OF the heathen-if you coulC
. only see il, hear it, feel il, as we do daily
T. living among them and knowing their los
!, condition now whatever may be thei
h condition after death and before the judg
. ment)-is enough to melt the stones
' heart and draw out the utmost sympath,
{ IN earnest endeavor to do the utmost il
Il our power for their salvation. What tn,
h condition of the heather and infants ma,
, be after death and before the Judgmen
= Day do not know, and DO not believ,
t any man does. know that the "Judg
r of ali the earth will do right" in thei
d case. But one thing feel sure of, an,
n that is that to keep earnest Christian
~ oack from work among the heather mere
- ly because they cannot thoughtfully an,
II earnestly say that they believe there is II
a, hope for the vast millions of heather VIII
Y die unrepentant, is the graudest mistak
+ OF this century.
: Chicago has more than 10000 teachers a
! her educational convention. But Bun
l. lington enjoys being cast in the shade
this hot weather.